OK in a bank robbery does the driver get the same penalty as the person that actually robbed?

Question

i wasnt thinking of doing it or anything me+dad had a disagreement

Answer 1

technically yes, they would be equally guilty. then again there are plea bargains... .

Answer 2

The driver will be prosecuted, no doubt. However, it depends on the jury...and the judge who issues the jail time. The driver would be considered the 'accomplice' who usually does not carry a weapon, but drives the vehicle.

Usually, in a bank robbery, there are guns involved. The person holding the gun and actually committing the robbery, will get the stiffer penalty. The accomplice, if ONLY in the vehicle, MAY get the lesser time.

However, if there is a jury that comes back with a verdict that they are both as guilty, the punishment issued by the judge could be the same.

Answer 3

It depends on their level of involvement and how the DA's office wants to prosecute the case. If a driver has been kidnapped or coerced into participating, the penalty may be different. On the other hand, if someone dies during the commission of the robbery, there is a very good chance the driver could be charged with murder or as an accomplice to murder.

Answer 4

Yes. It's true. If a person inside the bank gets shot or killed? The driver is also responsible for the injury and/or death, even though he didn't pull the trigger.

It has to do with intent. If a person is part of a group that planned and executed a crime, then everyone who took part in planning and executing the crime is equally guilty of the crime itself and conspiracy to commit that crime. Does the driver intend that the bank get robbed? Yes. Therefore, he's guilty, too.

Answer 5

Depends where you live and what role the driver played in the robbery. In Canada, see parties to an offence under the Criminal Code: http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/c-46/sec21.html:
Criminal Code
PART I
Parties to Offences
Parties to offence
21. (1) Every one is a party to an offence who

(a) actually commits it;

(b) does or omits to do anything for the purpose of aiding any person to commit it; or

(c) abets any person in committing it.

Common intention
(2) Where two or more persons form an intention in common to carry out an unlawful purpose and to assist each other therein and any one of them, in carrying out the common purpose, commits an offence, each of them who knew or ought to have known that the commission of the offence would be a probable consequence of carrying out the common purpose is a party to that offence.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 21.

In the U.S., see aiding and abetting http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000002----000-.html:

§ 2. Principals

(a) Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.
(b) Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal.

See also accessory at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessory_(legal_term):

An accessory is a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal. The distinction between an accessory and a principal is a question of fact and degree:

The principal is the one whose acts or omissions, accompanied by the relevant mens rea, are the most immediate cause of the actus reus (Latin for "guilty act").
If two or more people are directly responsible for the actus reus, they can be charged as joint principals (see common purpose. The test to distinguish a joint principal from an accessory is whether the defendant independently contributed to causing the actus reus rather than merely giving generalised and/or limited help and encouragement.

Answer 6

Planning on being a driver in a robbery? Don't do it man, you'll go to jail just as long as the person who robbed the bank, and if that person kills someone your screwed. Plus you could get shot or seriously hurt.

Answer 7

It depends on if they both use a firearm. I know of an instance where the driver fired a shotgun out the window as they were leaving and actually got more time then the one who held up the bank.

Answer 8

YES, the driver will get the same punishment as the actual robber because they are an accomplice to the crime, even if the acutual robber shot and killed someone inside the bank, the driver will get charged with the same charge as the shooter/robber.

Answer 9

He is an aider and abettor, not the principle. However, he can also be charged with conspiracy.

Generally, the getaway driver has a lessor role than the principle, and could get less time for his actions.

However, if someone gets shot and dies, all participants will be prosecuted for felony-murder, and could receive harsh sentences.

Answer 10

yeah, i think it's the same penalty.

you're going down, son!!

hope you saved some for the lawyer!!